Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Food and Agriculture Organization recently released this report, State of Food and Agriculture: Livestock in the Balance. The FAO report analyzes the rapidly changing global livestock production. Around one billion poor people depend on livestock production. The report stresses that livestock is essential to the livelihoods of around one billion poor people. Livestock provides income, high-quality food, fuel, draught power, building material and fertilizer, thus contributing to food security and nutrition. For many small-scale farmers, livestock also provides an important safety net in times of need. But the agency stressed the need for substantial investments and stronger institutions at global, regional, national and local levels, to ensure that continued growth of the livestock sector contributes to livelihoods, meets growing consumer demand and mitigates environmental and health concerns.